Parapluie Revel by Leonetto Cappiello - 1922 - 84 × 135 cm private collection Parapluie Revel by Leonetto Cappiello - 1922 - 84 × 135 cm private collection

Parapluie Revel

Color lithography printed on paper • 84 × 135 cm

  • Leonetto Cappiello - 9 April 1875 - 2 February 1942 Leonetto Cappiello

    1922

Parapluie Revel was an advertising poster created in 1922 for the French umbrella (parapluie) company, Revel. The firm commissioned the Italian-born poster designer Leonetto Cappiello to produce the image, which was printed in Paris by the renowned publishing house Devambez. Cappiello, who lived and worked mainly in Paris, is often described as one of the pioneers of modern advertising thanks to his innovative approach to poster design.

Earlier advertising posters, produced by artists such as Jules Chéret, Alfred Choubrac, and Hugo D'Alesi, tended to resemble paintings, filled with decorative detail and lively scenes. Cappiello took a very different approach. His posters often featured figures against a solid background, creating a bold visual contrast that captured attention instantly and was both simple and unforgettable. By focusing on dramatic impact, Cappiello shaped the visual language of 20th-century advertising.

P.S. Learn how artists structure their compositions in our free course, How to Look at Art.

P.P.S. Cover yourself from the rain! Here are umbrellas in art